and its uses...hmmm it seems to be highly toxic, even described as being a poison, but even here the dosage is the *thrill* I guess .....can't see it as it is mentioed as bein an anticancer remedy .......what has our amygdala to do with such a treatment

most common nitrilosides is amygdalin. This nitriloside occurs in the kernels of seeds of practically all fruits. The seeds of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, and the like carry this factor; often in the extraordinary concentration of 2 to 3 per cent. http://www.dadamo.com/bloggers/m/archives/00000036.htm

Amygdalin, Laetrile, B17Originally used to produce Prussic Acid.First isolated from Almonds thus another Chemical name of Mandelic Acid.

It is toxic in HIGH doses. Unfortunately all too often thats how research is undertaken.However, it is effective in the MINOR dose of say eating the seeds of an apple rather than tossing the core away as it helps the solubility of substances in the blood.It is still listed as useful for Malignant Melanoma {Skin Cancer}.Thus to be avoided then if on Blood Thinning drugs.Its what the flavour is in say Bitter Almond - And why we eat different Almonds.This is the same difference in Apricots used for eating the kernels and other Apricots.

The above mentioned Wiki article is all too US FDA biased - as there are other reports in other countries of its efficacy.

Herr Schlüggell -- Establish a Garden; Cultivate Community. "To see things in the seed, that is genius. He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much. The way to do is to be." -Lao TzuBruno Manser, Ned Lud, August Sabbe, Richard St. Barbe-Baker, Eddie Koiki Mabo, Masanobu Fukuoka